Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-11-24
TIE CENTENNIAL HISTORY Or OHIO.
Copyrighted. All rights rsssrUsd.l
SOME OLD NEWSPAPERS.
w.vLnRANp IEIoH.

Cincinnati on the 9th day Of NOvem-
Der, 1898, by William Maxwell. ltwas
called "The Centinet ofthe NoTtht0esteTn
Territorun and bore the motto: "Open
Ia all parties-infiuenced by none." AT
that time there were no political parties
in the State and but few people, the
population the previous year having
been roughly estimated at 9, 900 souls
within the entire State. In 1875 Ed
ward Freeman became the owner OF
this paper and changed the name to
FreeU1nn,s ,Jottrndl.n He continued
ituntil 1900. when he removed 1t to
Cbillicothe. On the 29th Of May, 1893,
Joseph Carpenter issued the nrst num-
Der of weekly paper, entitied -ihe
Western Spy and Hamilton Gdzette."
It IL believed that q few numbers OF
these papers are IN existence, but tney
are Of little value, except as curiositles.
They were published very irregularly
and neither lasted long.
The writer has had access 10 tne
"Western Spy" from which ne mas
made the following extracts. Ihey
are given here without commentO or ex-
planation, leaving the reader to draw
his own conclusions, for, and as Dog,
berry says, Companions are ooorous.
Tn that early time mails were not re,
ceiyed oftener than once week and
sometimes once fortnight. The news
papers were often intermitted for weeks
and sometimes months at o stretch; the
supply of printing paper run out. or
the proprietors had a job of pubic
printing on hand which was more pro-
fitahle than the paper and so it was
temporarily suspended: 1..,oo
WMay II, 1893. Post Office. Notice
is hereby given that post-oince is
Established at Chelicotha. All persons
therefore having business in that part
of the country, may now have speedy
and safe conveyance by post Tor ietters'
packets, etc."
July i1.-''Thomas Gregg has opened
anew tavern in the town of Chelicotha,
at the sign of the Green Tree. Travellers
and others supplyed with everything
necessary for their accommodation
and supplyed for their journey through
the wilderness"
Captain E. Kibby, who sometime
since undertook to cut road from FORT
Vincennes to this place, returned on
Monday reduced to periect sKeiet1n.
He had cut the road 10 miles, wnen oy
some means he was separated from ms
men; after hunting several days ioi
them without success, he steereo MS
course this way. He has undergone
great hardships, and was Obliged 70
Subsist on roots, ETC., which lie plcKeo
up in the woods. Thus far report"
We have next-"A recipe to make
beer from the shells of green peas
Pour six gallons of water on busnel OF
pea-shells and boil the whole until the
Shells are insipid to the taste. Pour OF
the water. which will be very sweet
into clean tub or keg, and add pint
of Yeast and two ounces ground ginger.
Fermentation will soon take place and
the beer be fit for use." :,
Dunning advertisements appear in al
varieties. Some are printed upside
down to attract notice; some coax anc
others threaten. Some appeal to
sense of honor or conscience, others t.
the terrors of the law. Others agar
regret that the English language ha
no terms forcible enough to express thu
urgencies of the case. Many of thes'
accounts were of five years standing
Long credits are the besetting sins ofar
early state of society. Here are samp
leE
Duns. Aug. civilian Austin
natience being almost exhausted, call
the attention of those indebted to him
etc.
"Observe. The undersigned, havinI
narticuiar call to go to the Atlanti
states. requests his customers to pa!
off. etc. In SO doing they will not onl.
be considered honest men, out par
ticular friends of their very hulnol
&c. AVERY"
A month later he reports his call il
more vigorous language:
"Mv generous friends, it may seer
like an absurdity to give you anothe
call to assist me to perform my journe
to the Atlantic States. One moment
reflection to men of ofsense, as knoN
YOU all are, will be sufficient to shoN
YOU that it is out of my power to brin
out nv family to this place without
considerable SUM of money, etc.
"Gentlemen, you are to say whethe
shall 90 to the Atlantic States or no
fiatter myself that there is not on
man among you but will exert ever
nerve to accomplish my wishes tn
time. Your distressed friend and yer
humble servant"
The above is pathetic, but not
much SO as the following:
uThose indebted to DIR. Homes vi
desired to remit him the sum due, /
being confined to Jail deprives him
the pleasure of calling personally q
his friends-they will therefore oblis
their unfortunate friend by complyin
with this request without loss of tim
Hamilton county prison, Oct. 29, 1893
s'Look sharp! Last notice. Thom'
Thompson. Jan. 10, 1900"
''Feb. l9.-Michael Brokaw calls
his creditors debtors for immedia
payment or else! !!
HAll commonplace ideas or circur
stances is unnecessary-the subscrib
wants his money-most of it has be'
due from one to seven years and
notes or debets not paid by the 10Th !
slant will be put in suit, etc."
Sept. l0.-Notice to smiths.
blacksmith is very much wanted
DAYTON. there being none within
miles of the place, which subjects 4
inhabitants to great inconvenience"
March 12.-"The President appoin
Charles w. Byrd Secretary fthe Ter
tory of the United States, northwest
the Ohio" .ooo
The New Years paper, 1900, opens
mourning and announces the death
General Washington:
s.Mourn, Columbia mourn!
Your father, your protectors gone
Under the same date the territor
,1l .ocracc prociAdnt Adam